Muhammad Arshad Khan

Muhammad Arshad Khan (, born 14 October 1969) known as MAK, is a Pakistani artist, painter, sculptor, social worker and the president of the Pakistan national committee for the World Art Games. He has painted several paintings, did not go to any art college, and learned painting from Bashir Mirza.

Early life and education Muhammad Arshad Khan is the son of Muhammad Azam Khan, born in Pontia, Tehsil Topi, District Swabi, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa on 14 October 1969. His official birthdate is 16 February 1972.

He studied at Government Primary School Shaheedan Topi, Government High School Topi, from which he obtained his secondary school certificate in 1988. After qualifying intermediate examination from Peshawar Board, he studied sociology as a major subject, along with mass communication, community development and urban sociology as specialized subjects in Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Karachi University. In 1996, he earned a Master of Arts degree.

Career as artist

He was better in drawings among his schoolmates but he couldn't attend art school to learn drawing. Khalid Zaman brought him to Karachi. There, he was involved in arts/theater as an actor, under the guidance of Ahmed Farooqui, an actor qualified at Poonum Arts School. He had also taken some classes from Nayyer Jameel.

He was introduced to the "Sunday gathering" at Indus Gallery by Bashir Mirza in 1997, where regular members Ali Imam, Bashir Mirza, Saleem Asmi, Professor Dr. Haroon, M. M. Usmani, Suleman Ganchi, Iqbal Jaffery, Aftab Tapal, Tasaduq Sohail and other national, as well as international, artists and celebrities interacted about art.

Community service

Ranrraa Development Trust "Ranrraa", established in 2006, is basically a Pashto word which has multiple meanings such as light, sacred conception and bright vision. He associated with the trust to help students affected by terrorism. "The mission of trust is to boost up the morale and life standard of the students directly affected by terrorism in Swat and Waziristan and... restart the life circle." Besides this, RDT also executed campaigns in order to create awareness.

Anti-toy gun campaign Toy guns are seen in the streets of Karachi. Mak raised his voice through RDT against toy guns as they train children for violence. In festivals, the sale of these guns increase. They are frequently used as a toy by the children of Karachi. RDT lifted up the banners at Press Club to stop toy guns and to save children. In an interview, Mak told the BBC, "If you are buying the gun, you are training five-year-olds to put a bullet in the chamber and fire shots. After using the toy gun, a child can easily use a real one."

Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum

Muhammad Arshad Khan is a founder member of the Cultural and Literary Secretary of Pukhtoon Thinkers Forum, which was established on 16 November 2007. It is a non-profit organization established to promote philosophy of non-violence, especially the version practiced by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Pakhto to Pakhto, literature, culture and arts. Pukhtoon thinkers forum worked for the literature of Pashto and provided books to the corner. The Forum also translated books and organized several events. PTF paid tributes to the great poets with the help of seminars and organizing events. In an interview with the Express Tribune, Mak said, "We wish for such events to act as a bridge between our culture and that of others".